Came to this hotel for a few nights. The museum gallery was fascinating, although the layout was confusing and required asking employees to tell me where check-in was. The room was pleasant and had a nice view over the city towards the east, which gave a nice sunrise when we woke up early. The shower had decent pressure and the towels were fluffy -- something I really value in a hotel. I'm taking off one star because the hotel restaurant was not good. I got the vegetable hash and it was sad. Just a few cut up root vegetables thrown together barely warm and topped with a couple eggs for nearly $20. If you're staying in Durham, definitely don't go to the restaurant in this hotel. read more

Centrally-located, awesome reception staff, spacious rooms and an actual museum. I like it. Upon arrival, you may be thinking this can't be the hotel. Once the offices of a bank, it feels a little corporate, but not modern-day corporate, more like early/mid-century corporate and I can get into that! You'll be greeting by the staff that will help with valet or luggage and directed to reception up on the second floor. When you get out of the elevator, you may again be doubting that you're in a hotel because there's the museum and depending on what artist is being exhibited, it may feel like you've wandered into an alternate universe of sculpture and paintings. Admittedly, it's a little sterile rather than luxurious or minimalist or maximalist (or whatever vibe a hotel is going for with their lobby). No signature scent. No floral displays. While at first it was a little off-putting, it wasn't a big deal because the museum concept is truly unique. My favorite amenity is the water. Seriously. They give you two refillable bottles and encourage you to use the water dispensers in the lobby and gym. I also appreciate the cozy robes in the room, Malin + Goetz products in large dispensers, cutting down on the small bottle waste that drives me insane. I usually don't do coffee in hotel rooms b/c it's so substandard (I despise Keurig) but here it's Nespresso, which is pretty good. Not a fan of the heating/cooling system in the room. I like to sleep with moving air and the thermostat in my room seemed to be locked. Note to self to always check this when I arrive because I sure as hell don't feel like doing so when it's time to go to bed. The gym is reallllly small and in the basement. I wouldn't look forward to working out down there, but it is what it is. There's one elliptical machine, a couple stationary bikes and treadmills. Cable weights, plenty of free weights and a couple kettlebells. It's just really small and I was grateful that I had it to myself because I need room when I'm doing a strength workout. And those chilled eucalyptus towels are LIFE, almost making up for the tiny windowless gym! I enjoyed my stay here. It might be my favorite of the three hotels that I've stayed in when visiting Durham. I think given the location and amenities, the value is good (when I was booking, it was significantly cheaper than the Marriott where I stayed the last time). read more

Review for museum part as I did not stay at the hotel. The free exhibit is awesome! My fav part is the portrait section. That one where a person was taken on the boat, and the photographer decided to dim the water super dark! Holy crap that contrast! Copyright issue so I didn't take any photos there. However I should have taken photos on the transparent bathroom series! Yup, the glass is completely see through and can see the individual toilets so I had to test it out. Once you lock the door, the glasses will blur so there you go, total privacy! This is genius! If they push this series out to the public, then everyone will make their restrooms squeaky cleans as they can see how clean/dirty before entering. I believe Japan is already using them. The basement you will find a huge bank vault. Pretty cool to see where one held chunk of gold bars at one point The bar on the first level is fancy but have that carpet odor dew smell so I passed on getting a drink. read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Lower level - former bank - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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No AC in the gym Moody front staff Noisy refrigerator in the room Restaurant and bar closed due to ac issue Fire alarm went off at 7am and apparently a malfunction Valet people not at valet station and nowhere to park. Unfortunately, this as a way below average hotel for an above average priced hotel. Never again. We left a day early. read more

This is a cool spot to take your guests who're visiting Durham! Each floor of the hotel actually has lots of different artwork. And in the basement is a real-life sized bank vault (great photo opp!) Free parking on weekends and weekdays after 7pm in nearby city of Durham garages. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Great location to the DPAC venue and nearby restaurants! We were in town to see a show and the venue is a quick five minute or less walk away. That was the main driver for selecting this hotel. They have valet parking here for $35 and you can take your car out as many times as you'd like or there is a garage two blocks down for $25 but you pay to take it out each time. The check in was easy and is in the middle of an art exhibit so you see some beautiful art while staying here. They have a gym and restaurant in the building which is nice. The room has nice touches like free water, a fridge, pillow chocolates and Netflix login. There is no overhead lighting and it's very dim at night with the lights provided as they are small lamps and not very bright. Great hospitality overall and we would stay here again. read more

Not a hotel review! Was looking for something unique to do that was free and stumbled upon this hotel, restaurant and museum. We paid for parking and walked right in. We explored all levels and such a good time viewing all of the art. The vault was the coolest part and the bathrooms are so freaking cool! read more

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The location is hard to find. They do not have onsite parking but the location is close to a parking garage. I stayed here for a work trip and honestly probably would not stay here again. The customer service at the front desk was not the best. The Valet team were great! Very kind. The mini fridge in my room did not work either. The steak dinner had little to no flavor as well. Other than that the host in the mornings for breakfast was amazing! When we would go down for breakfast she knew exactly what we ordered. read more

Buyer beware... they charge $42 for a rye Manhattan with Angela Envy. The waitress literally asked if Angels Envy was ok as if that was the well liquor and then we got the bill. Manager did nothing and justified it as "upselling." read more

I have not stayed at the hotel, I just visited the museum part. The staff were nice and helpful. The gallery was empty for the most part and that was nice because said it allowed for me to look around in peace. From what I understand, this boutique hotel used to be a bank. Unika B. & Co. read more

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Everything have the bar and restaurant open past 8 for late arrivals maybe say 10 at least coffee maker didn't work phone in room did t work heat didn't work and I requested a late checkout when I arrived yet it was never entered I. The system Also floors looked filthy maybe this was a choice. The breakfast at the restaurant was not good and service while friendly was very slow. Also the staff was very disconnected and most times I walked to the lobby no staff was there Now the valet and staff by the door was friendly and helpful door was always opened for us and they were very welcoming read more

Once inside the hotel, it was not effortless to find the underground Cocktail series event that I registered for on Eventbrite. It would have been nice if the guy at the door would have offered assistance. I assume this was a valet company and this individual doesn't work directly for the museum. When my friend and I ran into a staff member on the elevator he was nice enough to direct us. At the bar, Jasmine was a great bartender and did a fabulous job engaging. Very pleasant and welcoming to myself and a friend. The Sage Advice cocktail was very tasty. I enjoyed it. 21C is a unique experience and something different to do than usual. I am glad I was invited out to see 21C. I do feel there is room for more. I enjoyed the multi-media mini-film about the mule. read more

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Went to a family friend's quinceañera this past weekend and it was the best party I been to in years! The art museum was incredibly interesting, the banquet hall was impressive, and the drinks were amazing! The bartender (think his name was Amerie or something) several times went out of his way to get or make something that wasn't offered on their standard bar. Man, if every party had a bartender with that much dedication people would never want to leave! Highly recommend attending an event here, you won't forget it! read more

A group of us visited before a show at DPAC. The building was once a bank, but now there's a hotel, nice restaurant and event rooms. There is various forms of art in parts of the building that the public can see. In the basement there are still different sizes of vaults still there. Very interesting to see. read more

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This review will highlight my time spent at the Counting House Vault bar on the Lower Level and museum floors. Not a hotel stay. This is a very unique boutique hotel that features the Counting House bar on the main level, the hotel itself, small museum exhibits and the bank vault on the lower level. We had some trouble navigating the different floors. A staff member escorted us to the Vault which is actually very nostalgic because the building was once a bank. You can actually enjoy a cocktail while seated in the original bank vault. Durham in particular established a powerful banking sector and the building was once the Durham Bank & Trust Company. Ironically, the same designer of New York City's Empire State Building, built this building as well. It later became Central Carolina Bank and was the tallest structure in Durham. The bank fell on hard times in the mid-2000s and was later rebuilt into the museum hotel it is today. I found the vault very unique, very reminiscent of Harry Potter Gringotts Bank meets Gotham City in Batman ( it's all the penguins). I discovered their Underground Cocktail Series on Eventbrite and decided it would be a cool experience. I had heard great things about the 21c Museum Hotel venue. The staff here were very warm and welcoming. Jasmine the bartender in the Vault was very welcoming, knowledgeable and really engaged us in good conversation and provided local recommendations for places to dine. She was very enthusiastic about creating memorable craft cocktails. I enjoyed the cardigan cocktail. I also enjoyed the small exhibits as well. read more

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I can't complain! As someone who stays in Marriotts wherever I go, I was intrigued to see what this place would be like when my usual hotel Marriot dt couldn't host me. I'm so glad I switched things up! They met expectations and the ambiance is funky, different, and cool. the shower situation was comical in the sense that my shower floor was flushed with the bathroom floor overall, and would completely flood every time I showered. I can't remember if this is because I had a handicap room or just a normal room. I would consider staying again! read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Lobby - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Absolutely enamored with my stay at 21C! Arrived about an hour before check-in, and they were able to accommodate me. I opened the door to my double room and was amazed by the bathroom--yes, I took selfies, and it was so worthy of that and more! The room was super open and had a cute little seating area. Next to that was an ample TV with tons of channels! I dropped my stuff and eased into the bed, which was so comfortable. The pillows had different levels of thickness, so I loved playing with them and figuring out what I liked! After chilling out for a few hours, I finally made my way downstairs to check out the museum and the bank. They still have the vault and the deposit boxes. Wow! It was so cool to be able to walk through and take in history and the uniqueness of this hotel. To end the night I got to enjoy the beautiful and deep soaking tub-it is a must! I had such a wonderful stay, and I will be back! A couple of suggestions would be to change the toilet paper to two ply and upgrade the tissues. I think for the amount of money to stay here for a night, the toilet paper should at least me two ply! read more

This was a very minimalist hotel. My room was on the smaller side though the bathroom was fine. They had a small basic coffee machine without any coffee cups which was an oversight. Also no glasses other than the toothbrush holders in the bathroom. The art floor is pretty cool which I guess is the appeal of the place and it was located in the heart of downtown which is a plus but the hotel/room itself were okay. read more

I just love the concept here. Bar with eclectic cocktails in the hotel, Art gallery open late to meander through with modern Art. What's not to like? read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Spa review only, I did not stay at the hotel: I first contacted the spa a week and a half before my intended massages (I was booking for two) and was put on hold for 20 minutes but then told that they would be emailing me communication in the next few days about whether or not I was approved for the two massages. Fine, they're a busy place. Five days later I hadn't heard, so I call back and am told there is no record of me trying to book a massage but they'll submit my information. I did then receive an email confirmation for the two massages and I was excited. The day before the massage they call to ask if they can bump our massages back by fifteen minutes due to not realizing how long another guest had booked. Okay, fine. Then the hour before our massages were meant to start I get a call telling me that they didn't realize the other person's booking was so long and that they could no longer offer us our services. They did offer the next day or that afternoon (this was at ten), but we had come in from out of town for a girl's day and were already booked for other events at the times offered. They did refund me, but it was a big disappointment and did not give me confidence in their organization, communication, or overall customer service. read more

The room's heat did not work. Called the front desk three times and was told "engineering is on the way." Never saw them. Next morning, the room was still in the low 60s. Called again. Apparently a good number of rooms are experiencing the problem. So we get a credit for one night. Super. We tried eating in their near empty restaurant. No less than five staff members greeted us in the first 10 minutes while we waited, only to tell us later that it would be 15 minutes. We gave up and headed back to the room. One of the wait staff rode the elevator with us to deliver a room service order. She was banged up and shaking all over-- took her shoes off in the elevator. It was like the entire staff here was on fentanyl. They were vacant, careless. Stay at the Marriott. It's boring AF, but certainly more dependable than this clown show. read more

I booked the hotel for Valentine's Day, which turned out to be a disaster. I informed the staff when I checked in at 2.50 that the heat was not working. They acknowledged the issue and said the system would be rebooted and the problem would be resolved. I returned to the hotel six hours later with no status or progress. I call the front desk and spoke with Damien jones to move me to another room or provide me a refund. Damien was extremely rude and stated that all rooms were sold out that there was nothing that could be done, I went for a refund. I consider not having heat when it's 38 degrees outside and dropping a health risk and unfortunately the hotel staff did not see it that way. I would not encourage anyone to book this hotel. read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I am currently staying in the hotel in room no. 120*. I have paid 190$ per night for my stay. It is very very disappointing to flag this issue that even after repeatedly reminding the front desk 3 times in a day, my room was still not cleaned. The first time I requested for my room to be cleaned at 10:45 am, then at 2:30pm & then again 5:10pm. All the 3 times I was told by the staff at the front desk that my room cleaning is in queue with the house keeping staff, they staff first cleans the new check in rooms and then they will clean the room of the existing guests. At 5:10pm when I asked about the update on the room I was told by Josh that Claudia (housekeeping staff) has left for the day and he will see what he can do to fix it. I returned at 10:00 pm to my room to a shock that my room was still not cleaned. I have travelled world around and have never seen such service. Housekeeping staff cleaning the rooom daily is basic for a room for which you are paying so much. Very Very disappointed with the whole experiece and makes me question my memebership with ACCOR. read more

I stayed a few nights at the 21c Museum Hotel in Durham. The 21c has a great location relative to the DPAC and the downtown restaurant scene. They're going for a boutique hotel atop a pop-art museum feel. The art is interesting enough, but the boutique hotel execution was kind of a miss. It felt dated. Things in my room weren't working, broken, an un-stocked coffee machine, etc. and the room was kind of... ok. I went back to the front desk to ask for a different room and was told that was all they had. (I was not so sure, but ok...) The staff was friendly, but theres' other hotels across the street that might be a bit better for the same price. read more

I am writing this review having not stayed at the hotel, just walking through to take a look! It was fun to stop in and check out the scene and see some cool art. They are a Historic Hotel of America and it has great charm (and that historic smell) read more

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Stay here. At first I didn't know what to think of this hotel and Durham. We arrived on a Tuesday and the entire town seemed empty. I guess the student body from Duke University was home for the holidays. I think we were the only ones on our entire floor. Anyway, this is one of the most interesting hotels I've ever stayed at. They have managed to fuse together a modern hotel with a fantastic modern art museum into an old bank building. The combination of these elements makes for a surreal adult playhouse to explore. It seems you can just follow your muse here, visit the museum exhibits, tour the old bank. Even their public restrooms were THE most unique I've ever seen. I just can't explain it all here. The rooms were modern and clean as can be. We were pleased for the value. Once we figured out the town of Durham, its layout, lack of prominent businesses signs, we were pleasantly surprised by the entire experience here. Staying at this hotel is a must have experience if visiting. It not only enriches your visit to Durham, it's a unique and memorable travel experience. read more

The service (other than valets) was terrible. Went to bar to order a drink and no one paid any attention to us. Finally went and stood at bar to clearly order drinks, and bartenders literally kept their back to me as if they never noticed. Left! Room on 11th floor but there was only 1 elevator that was in operation that went above floor 6 so even the housekeeping services with their huge carts were all using the 1 elevator. One time it took me 15 mins to get an elevator. A/c was broken at the gym so exercised at 80 degrees. Our bathroom mirror was cracked, coffee machine in room did not work and the bed springs creaked. Worst bed I have slept on for a long time. The art needed some TLC. Some installations required electricity and were no longer illuminated. I feel this could be a nice place, but it needs help! read more

Well located, interesting concept for a hotel. Located in a former bank, hotel is also an art gallery. Rooms are nicely laid out. However, the execution is lacking. Beds are not good, the deadbolt on our door failed, the shower head spewed water everywhere. There is a Nespresso machine in the room, that's a nice touch--but its probably the noisiest home appliance I've every heard. If they do a better job running this hotel, it could be 5 stars. read more

I LOVE this suite. The hotel is beautiful pleasurable to look at and big enough to feel luxurious. read more

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I lived in Durham when the 21c opened and it quickly developed a reputation for being pretty swanky. In the years since, however, it appears the place is not being all that well cared for or managed. The minimal furniture in our room was looking shopworn, half the lightbulbs were missing, the Nespresso machine didn't work, the shampoo and shower gel dispensers were empty, and the valet service leaves you standing around for 30 minutes while you wait for someone to take your car when you get back at night. First World problems, I guess, but not at the rates they charge. Disappointing. read more

Very creative hotel / museum combo. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean with wonderful amenities. This is close to a railroads which are operating early in the morning, so there's noticeable noise if you are light/mid sleeper. You do have to ask for extra blankets as the bed, while comfortable, has a thin sheet and thin blanket so if you like weight/blankets, you'll need to ask for more. The gym is well stocked with equipment and free weights. the one thing that was missing was cleaning wipes to wipe down equipments after your finished. read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - From the museum - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I am a big Hyatt person and, if I stray from them, I stay with Marriott or Hilton. On this trip, I attended a wedding for a great friend and the 21c was the host hotel and wedding venue. As such, I booked a two night stay. In short, I would give the hotel a 3/5. The only reason I am giving it a 4/5 is because of the service we had at the bar on our first night. When checking in as part of a wedding group, on the block rate, I expected the check in agent to make note of it, maybe provide information if he had it about the wedding or even give a general breakdown of the hotel. We were given no information at check-in. I provided my name, showed my ID and CC and was given a room key. No information was provided in terms of check-out times, location of the gym, bar, restaurant or anything else. We were assigned a room on a lower floor which faced the roof and some HVAC equipment.. The room seemed nice, though the sheets are thin and no extra blankets were in the closet. I like softer pillows, though all three on each bed were hard. Mattresses weren't too bad and the sound proofing of the room was pretty good (besides when loud people walked across the concrete floors in the hallway). The water pressure was quite good and the bathroom was nicely designed. Bar wise, we had drinks twice on our first night (before and after dinner). On the first visit, we sat for 7-10 mins without any contact from the bartenders. Service was so-so. When we returned later in the night, we had different bartenders who were great, suggested drinks and were nice to chat with. Overall, it's a nice property, though the staff were nothing special. I'd give a 3/5 for hotel staff and 4/5 to the bartenders. If it wasn't for the fact the wedding was at 21c, I wouldn't have booked it. I probably won't be visiting this property again and will return to the wonderful Carolina Inn. read more

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I stayed here one night . This is an excellent hotel to combine lodging , dining and a museum tour ! The museum and art is located on the lower level and lobby area of the hotel . It is open 24 hours and guests are free to roam and look at their convenience. This is a great boutique hotel if you're not into large chains . The interior design was beautiful and the front desk lobby staff was friendly and professional. The amenities include a spa, sauna and fitness center . I did have a challenging with parking (the valet was not onsite when I arrived), there is no curbside parking to drop off luggage or near by parking when considering hauling luggage . Also , the room type I booked on Expedia did transfer over. I booked a double queen, but was placed in a single queen. I called and booked a late check out that was not in their notes . The flooring and walls were a little dated or dingy . The sauna and steam room smelled of mildew. The cleaning staff was unpleasant and the mini bar did not have signage on the charges (apparently guests are charged the moment they move a bottle or beverage out of place ) and there is no pricing on any of the bottles . The museum is open to the public without entry fees. There were a group of teenagers being pretty careless running and playing around the museum which could present a safety concern for the space to be so open to walk ins . Lastly , the hotel charges an extra $100 for incidentals that could take several days to drop off depending on the bank . I was okay with this, but would have liked to be informed before seeing the charge . The hotel resolved the room booking , valet , and late check out quickly and was extremely nice about it . I do recommend this hotel , but would just consider the watchouts above . read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Window view - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The room was clean and the bathroom lights were cool. That's the only reason I'm not giving it 1 star. The room was freezing. We had the thermostat turned up to 74 and the room was still cold. The bed had a tiny sheet that offered no warmth. There was also a little duvet but it hardly had any fluff in it. It was scattered and sparse. The towels were hard and not soft at all and looked ragged and were falling apart. The view out our room wasn't cute. On top of that the walls were paper thin and the people next door were extremely loud. They were yelling and partying until about 5 am. I was woken up multiple times. If you plan on getting any sleep DO NOT stay here. I'll never be staying here again. If you're in the Durham NC area do yourself a favor and stay somewhere else. read more

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This is a beautiful museum and hotel located in Downtown Durham. You're steps away from American Tobacco Campus, restaurants, breweries, and more. I stayed here for a number of nights and had a wonderful time. During COVID, there's someone at the main entrance who will check your temperature every time you enter. Also, because of health and safety precautions, don't expect your room to be cleaned during your stay. This is both an advantage and disadvantage. If you want clean towels and additional toiletries, you'll have to request them. My one and only complaint is that there was limited ventilation in my room. The bathroom fan wasn't working and unfortunately wasn't able to be fixed during my stay. This was a bit annoying given that no other cleaning was being done. Other than that, my room was great! I loved the purple lighting in the bathroom, and I had a beautiful view of the city from the 10th floor. read more

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The bar is fantastic! Drinks are always perfection. Such a fun place to go with all the art to look at. You can order a drink at the bar and then walk the three floors of art. Definitely a must if you're in the triangle area. read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Loved this place!!! It was suggested that we get a cocktail at the bar and walk around the museum, which we did! You MUST get the Derry Girl. This was the most delicious and refreshing cocktail with Irish whiskey, fresh cucumbers and a Tajin rim. Seeing the art was totally free! The bathrooms were interesting - see through until you click the lock closed. Except at least one stall wasn't working (that would have been awkward) and this poor lady could not get hers unlocked. Maybe it was all for art. read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Derry Girl cocktail. Amazing! - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

21C is one of my favorite hotel brands, but this one in Durham is a bit disappointing. Great location, reasonable rate, and friendly service are on plus side. However, the rooms are smallish and outdated. More importantly, my room was not cleaned properly. There was half empty bottle of water on the window sill, garbage in the can, and few other small details. Museum art installations were not as interesting as in Chicago Kansas City or Nashville. Bar was nothing special too. Really 2.5 stars out of 5. read more

This is one of my go to spots to take out of town visitors. We stop by the bar first to grab a drink and then walk around the bank vault and gallery. They have a fun selection of cocktails, and also sell wine and beer. The beer can be a little overpriced ($8 for a pint) but I think it's to be expected at this location...and I'm ok with it because you get to walk around for free. The main floor has some really awesome art and sculptures in the bar/dining area. The bottom floor has an old bank vault that's fun to explore. As you make your way upstairs, there are bathrooms that are all clear glass until you lock them...so don't have too many drinks and forget to turn that knob haha. The top floor is an art gallery that always has some really unique, interesting pieces. I'm not sure how often they change the art around, but I've only ever noticed a few pieces that have always been there...there is always something new to see! There is always a staff member at the main entrance to open the door for you on your way in and out. Since we only visit for a few hours, we just find street parking, which you do need to pay for at certain times. read more

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Stayed here in their luxury suite for a night, and it was beautiful. Room was basically perfect, staff was friendly and helpful, and overall I'd recommend the place. That said, parking is a bit of an issue in the area (but they do offer valet parking), and we couldn't quite get the full experience as the first floor gallery and restaurant were closed. Don't get me wrong, what was open was great, but for the price you pay for a hotel like this, it'd be best to have those items fully up and running. Will visit again in the future. read more

21c Museum Hotel Durham - Hotels Near Me - Durham, North Carolina